Sheet-metal-bending machine.



H. 0. GRANT.

SHEET METAL BENDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 14, 19Q8.

9 R. 0T m l m n A a 1., m m i .Y B w E 1 9 WG H. 0. GRANT.

SHEET METAL BENDINGMAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED HOV. 14, 1908.

Patented 0013. 5, 1909. 4 8HBBTB-8HEET 2.

I 1 YVLNTOR.

WITNESSES:

H. 0. GRANT.

SHEET METAL BENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1908.

I JIVVENTOR.

v WITNESSES: N 1\ 4,, 1lwm To all whom it may concern:

- UNITED sTATns PATENT o' rrroa.

' HARRY c. GRANT, or BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

To THE LIONEL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or coN EcTIcUT.

SHEET-METAL-BENDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

Application filed November 14, 1908. Serial No. 462,539.

Be it known that I, HARRY C. GRANT, a citizen. of the United States, and resident of Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal- Bending Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sheet metal bending machines.

In the draw1ngsa-F1gure l is a plan view of a machine embodying the present ii'ivention. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same; the outer bearing standards being removed to show the gear arrangement. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the machine taken on the line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 4 ;L of Fig. 3 of the first pair of rolls, the shafts and adjustment screws being shown in elevation. Fig. 5-is a front elevation taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 of the second pair of rolls. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the third pair of rolls taken on the line 6-6 of Fiq. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the fourth pair of rolls taken on the line 77 of Fig.

0. Fig. 8 is a vertical section across the bearing blocks for the rolls showing in elethe third pair of rolls. Fig. 14: is a cross va'tion the. tie rods and adjusting screws. Fig. 9 is a detail view from the entering end of the guide block carrying the mandrel on which the track is formed, the view being taken on the line 9'9 of Fig. 3. Fig.

10- is a horizontal section, taken on the line 10l0 1n Flg. 9 of the guide block. The fourth pair of rolls and mandrel are shown in full-view. Fig. 11 is across section of the metal after passing the. first pair of rolls.

Fig. l2 is across section of the metal after passing the second pair of rolls. Fig. 13 1s a cross section of the metal after passing section of the metal after'passing the fourth pair of rolls; and Fig. 15 is a view in cross section of an alternative form of the rail formed by .these rolls wherein the flange of the rail is strengthened.

The invention consists primarily in gradually forming by successive ste s the metal as shown in the drawings, an freely but firmly guiding the metal to insure perfect alinement, and in supporting the metal while being shaped. And to so conduct the ma guide section a.

chine that the operation is rapid and certain. And to so arrange the power-transmitting parts that they balance the strain and operate the rolls synchronously, thus avoiding any curling or jamming of the The blanks are formed of flattened sheets of proper width and determined length. The

width is the same as the guide a. It is then drawn close nor are the flanges or shapes sharp, it being the deslgn to glve the metal a preliminary shape. From the rolls B, the metal is received by the second section c of the, guide which has substantially the oi i ter he shape of the metal delivered to it. metal shaped as in Fig. 11 is delivered to the second pair of rolls B'-, which sharpen all the angles and define the curves to the cross section shown at Fig. 12. From the rolls B E the metal is delivered to the guide section a, which corresponds to the outer shape of the metal which is delivered to it. The guide section a, delivers the metal to the third pair of rolls B, where it is bent upward as shown in Fig. 13. Fromthe rolls B the metalis delivered to the guide section a and from thence to the vertically arranged rolls 13*, where the metal is pressed .formed. In this construction the tread is circular in shape. To prevent the metal collapsing while being formed, I introduce the mandrel C, which is loosely mounted in the It is loosely mounted to slide forward when the end of the rail is between the rolls I3 and v grips the mandrel underthe strain. In its normal position itispositionedso that its end does not rest between the rolls on the center or grip line. By holding the mandrel thus, the metal being formed is allowed'easy access between the rolls, the mandrel coming forward only when gripped by the metal. The

shoulder C prevents the mandrel being pulllled forward beyond the center line of the. ro 's. Y

-When the rail is shaped, as shown, it is delivered over the supporting roll B to thebending rolls B, B, whichjare formed as are the rolls B. They are provided with means to give them 'alateral offset and therebycurve the rail as the same is delivpower .and action is transmitted by the chains of g fears substantially as shown at Fig. 2 of the drawings. In the rolls' B, B .B ,'the-upper and lower shafts are each provided with a gear wheel F, F F which are-equal in size and engaged, thus securing the synchronous action of the two rolls. ZBetween the gears F and F on the upper rolls- B" and B is interposed a transmission gear G, which is provided with an independent bearing on a standard as shown at Fig. 1.

As stated the rolls B are mounted ver-- tically having vertical shafts which are mounted. in the frame and are provided with suitable miter gears F and F whichfare equal, and which are geared with the equal miter gears G, G on the shaft G. The

shaft Gr is provided with a pinion G, in line with and engaged by the pinion G wh ch in turn is engaged by the pinion G that is engaged with the gear'F The pinion G* and gear F are equal in diameter fliereby securing the same revolutions to the roll B and shaft. G, which transmits the same revolution to the roll B"; In the drawings at Fig. 2, the various gear pinions etc. are shown with arrows showing their direction of rotation.

By providing the shaft D with the drivmg and loose pulleys D D and beltshifter Dfl the operation of the rolls may be con trolled. \Vhile shown in this application as being arranged for power .drive, I may use, hand or foot power. All the parts shown} are mounted on the bed plate X. The mach1ne here described. may be constructed very small and light enough to be portable.

The rolls B, B B, have similar mount-- it 'ing and adjustment. The shafts of the rolls "are Rprovi pass through 'split boxes. H and H.'.' These ed with crforations through which are passed the tie bolts .J ,.J on which the boxes are free tomove. The tie bolts pass through a plate K, above the boxes, and through the bed'plate X, below the boxes and are provided with set nuts (in the out-' side of each and shoulders on the inside of each as shown, Fig. 8, of drawings. When bolted firm the boxes are held from any lateralmovement. I a The adjustment of the upper and lower rolls of each pair is accomplished by the screw ,L.;, This screw is threaded at each end and; ,moun ted in tapped holes in the abutting bearing blocks. 'The threads at either end of the screw and the holes to receive same. are threaded at opposite pitch, whereby the threaded ends are inserted in or withdrawn from'the holes by the same rotation of the screw. The outer halves of the bearings are held in place by the screws L L which are threaded in perforations in the bed plate X, and the tively to bear upon the bearing as shown in Figs. 4 and 8 ofdrawings.

plate K, respec- The guide sections a, a a, are shaped to conform substantially to the shape of the metal as it is delivered to each section. While serving the purpose of a guide the section's further serve to prevent the metal becoming twisted in front of the rolls. For this purpose the sections are provided with covers a, a", a Theguide section a is provided with the top plate a theofiice of which is to maintain the mandrel C, in position. This section a receives the metal from the rolls B ',in an angular shape, which shape may vary. To catch and guide inward any flared portion I have flared the opening into the guide a, as shown at Figs.

this guide a -it.is'formed from the shape shown at Fig. 13 to the shape shown at Fig. 14;. This is accomplished by drawing the sections Y, Y, together to form the webof the rail. The hanger C ofthe mandrel "0, extends down intolthe' guide at that portlon metal which forms the tread Y of the rail,

' 3 and 9. lwiile the metal is passing through "where the metal is-lnot closed, while the mandrel C, is extended forwardto receive the.

and thus prevents the metal at this point collapsing. In the operation of the machine the metal slides over the mandrel C, but leaves it only where the forming pressure is passed.

, As stated the guide rolls B, may beused to bend the rail. These rolls are vertically mounted in swin ing arms M, as shown at Figs. 1, 2, 3 and These arms are pivoted on the shafts that carry the rollsB and. are secured in their operative position by cap screw M, which are mounted/in quadrant slots ormed in the arms M, and secured in the bed plate X'. By reason 'ofthis constructionthese rolls may be thrown. to one side and the rail bethus forced aroundto the desired curve. I

The rail is supported from the rolls B to threaded standard, which is engaged by suitable nutsN, as shown at Figs. 2 and The standards carrying the bearings for the various shafts, pulleys, and bearings, I have not detailed either in the drawings or in this specification. Any suitable construction Will do. In the machine as at present constructed the simplest and most durable forms and materials are used.

Having thus described myinvention, what I. claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a series of shaping rolls to operate by successive steps, with a series of guide channels having the form of the metal. as shaped by the rolls said guides being interposed between the rolls, and a movable mandrel mounted in the guide channel preceding the final shaping rolls to rest between the sides of the metal to receive the 1 same, and adapted to be drawn by the metal &

between the shaping rolls, substantially as shape, with a pair of shaping rolls mounted vertically, guide. channels interposed between the said horizontal rolls and vertical rolls to guide the metal in passing, drel loosely mounted in said channel adapts ed to rest between the sides of the metal to receive the same and adapted to be drawn by the metal between the vertically mounted sha ing rolls, substantially as set forth.

igned at NeWXork in the county of New York and State of New York this 12th day of November A. D. 1908.

\ HARRY C. GRANT. \Vit-nesses FRANK M. ASHLEY, A. T. SCI-IARPS.

a man- 

